Eli Lilly halts COVID antibody trial amid safety concern

Oct. 13, 2020

Eli Lilly have announced that the U.S. government-sponsored clinical trial of its COVID-19 antibody treatment, which is being developed with Canadian biotech AbCellera, has been halted, citing a safety concern.

According to Lilly, the ACTIV-3 independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) has recommended a pause in enrollment. The drugmaker is supporting the decision by the independent DSMB to ensure the safety of the patients participating in this study.

Lilly had already asked U.S. regulators to authorize its antibody therapy, LY-CoV555, for emergency use after publishing data in September showing it helped cut hospitalization and emergency room visits for COVID-19 patients.

Read the Reuters report